Ken Halstead -RIP

I hear him speaking,

not in some ghostly way

but in the echoes of each thing

he might say

did you know? and you should!

feature high on his list .

But also did you hear him say:

he plays soccer like a pro,

I think he’s quite good!

and: son or daughter!

walked the Kokoda trail,

shot the surf,

and walked the big ape

I hear him speaking.

I see him sweeping

so much of it endless.

Careful, tidy planting

watering, mowing.

Brass polished more

than anything should be.

A book about a wolf

Do you hear him speaking?

Love, family, acceptance

future, hope, struggle.

Palestine, Cumberland,

What ever way he speaks,

however he touched my life, yours,

I hear him speaking

and will hear

On Pentecost

Dream in me today

my heartfelt lover;

should less than highest heights

or ocean’s depths

be found

then dream in me

a  little more today

Since no one appears to have taken any notice!

Posted on Facebook about this interesting article in the magazine  America...Some would call this a (post) modernist, leftist Catholic mag...but let's leave the name calling to others!
The Archbishop of Dublin opines about the state of the Church in Ireland! (here)
No one has commented or 'liked' or anything.
My suspicion is that Abp Martin's analysis is worth much more than this!  A senior church person in this (formerly) most Catholic of countries should at least be attended to....however briefly
Some things he says which seem important to me
It is not that Ireland is today in a momentary out-of-the-ordinary period in its history, somehow temporarily adrift from what is really the default position. There is no default position anymore, and there has not been such a position for some time. In many ways the church in Ireland had been trapped in an illusory self-image. The demographic majority the church enjoyed hid many structural weaknesses, and the church became insensitive to such weakness. 

and yet more

Faith in Jesus Christ must open us out beyond human horizons. Christian faith requires changing our way of thinking, of trusting in God’s love rather than in the tangible securities of day-to-day life. When faith leads to conformism, it has betrayed the very nature of faith.

and again
The Catholic Church requires lay men and women whose faith enables them to dare to hope and who will challenge us to expand the parameters of our hope beyond the narrow confines that each of us individually and as communities consciously or unconsciously fix for ourselves. 


he says

All this is taking place at a time in which there is a growing secularization of culture and politics. I could list many examples of the distance between politics and the church and examples of unbalanced media coverage. But to do that would probably be interpreted as saying that it is politicians, journalists and the media who are to blame for the crisis in the Irish church. 

It is pretty important to read the whole thing.

But also of interest to me are the comments by one who taken time to reflect at depth on what +Diarmid  might be saying...he calls himself Vincent Gaitley and makes certain trenchant criticism

Your opening should have been, "The causes of the crisis lie within the church itself." Frankly, you need bold action. 

and then again a pretty piercing critique of priestly ministry

1. Admit you and every priest in Ireland needs redemption from this, and that it must be earned from the people...this isn't the redemption that Jesus promises, and you have no say in its theology, this is the people's respect you need to earn

He says to the good bishop and yet more 
Focus. Put your eyes on fewer issues socially and speak out less. Pick your fights. Let life happen, don't comment on every little thing the government or media or the flock does. Trust that folks will find their way. Do less, but do better, and then achieve more.

He goes on

When bad things happen again (and they will), take charge, take action, restore confidence. When the time comes when you need to fight, folks might by then see the difference and help you.

Clearly this is important stuff if the Church is to take its current plight seriously and expect to be take seriously 

My baby dog

Only a couple of weeks ago (pictured) she seemed like a 14 week old puppy.
This morning as I played "find the ball" in the garden...she looked like she needed a Mistress or a Master, toting a shotgun. Ready to shoot duck, pigeons, rabbits.....
Head held erect, tail pert and attentive.
Never have the camera when I need it!!!!
Also never had the intention of shooting anything.
Betsey, our 158 day old (the wonder iof the internet) baby is such a joy and a delight.
Such joy and companionship.
She has a better pedigree than I do!
And is indeed a Princess.
What a privilege we humans have....a theological diversion...to be allowed to care for...and to be cared for by such subordinate creatures. I talk much about unconditional love. She loves me and K &S with such fullness and joy that it is profound.
Such joy pets bring to our lives.

Not rocket science

I have spent well over an hour today trying to get my Seniors Card & MetroCard to show up what balance I have on my MetroCard.


The process seems UNFRIENDLY....and I seem to keep going round and round in circles

I am not a computer ignoramus...but wonder about the (many) older people I know who are quite bright  but shouldn't have to deal with a system that is obviously ill thought out and dysfunctional.

When finally I gave up and went to the newsagent to manually recharge my card, the lady in the shop could tell me that "they are obviously having quite a lot of problems"....This is not rocket science.

Copying to minister and various politicians

Referendums are no solution

There are many around who seem to think that democracy means that if you have got the numbers you win. But, I suggest, that is the real naivete of the idealist. It begs all sorts of questions....like where and how do you have to "have the numbers".
It would be totally unworkable and indeed "ridiculous" to suggest that every piece of legislation should be voted on by everyone. If you are really old then you may remember a 70s movie "The Rise and rise of Michael Rimmer"...starring the inimitable Peter Cook (here)
Rimmer gets elected promising the ultimate in democracy ...."You (the voter) will vote on everything!"
It is not long before the people tire of this they don't want to govern, they want to be governed. The post boxes overflow as the plebiscite votes clog up the system, and worse than that people's lives are interrupted by the need to stop and vote on trivial matters like upping the price of sewerage tax and so on.
Finally they beg the 'democratic' Herr Rimmer to just ease their pain and decide on their behalf...and he becomes a bizarre and not so benevolent dictator....and they are glad they don't have to vote on the increase of postage. Of course, when the people beg the dictator to 'just govern'  he assume more and more responsibility.
And in the end he just does what he likes.
It is an interesting parable.
The Westminster system of democracy elects people to govern not to constantly refer stuff back to the electorate...which is its own tyranny.
In fact it is more than this. WE should be wary when there is talk of referendum
Politicians notoriously call for referenda when they lack capacity for leadership.
Now that sets all sorts of alarm bells going for me.
Because we require our leaders to lead! Not to play the Michael rimmer game, which ultimately ends in despotism.
What I want is not for Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard, or Tony Windsor and friends to let me decide....but to show some real leadership.
Let them show their hand.....and say what they truly feel.
There is a good article here about why such referenda are a bad idea.
They are NOT democracy in action. Quite the contrary; they are a failure of nerve.

Highly inappropriate

I am pleased that there were not unseemly demonstrations at the funeral of M Thatcher, no one's family (whomsoever they are) should have to have their grief confronted by malcontents who think they have the right to do that.
But I don't think we should confuse the fact that there appeared to be no or few demonstrations with the fact that the streets around the Cathedral Church of St Paul were obviously strictly policed. I noticed on the coverage, for example, that though there were people immediately in front of St Paul's (but well back)  that the winding streets around the cathedral were empty as the hearse drove along. One can only imagine that there were either no people there to fill those streets (a demonstration in itself?) or that they were kept free of the hoi poloi...I tend to think the latter and again ...a demonstration in itself of what that nation's police force might justifiably have thought could have been the reaction against the PM who took the nation to war over the Falklands, who oversaw what some have seen as the 'economic salvation' of the UK ...at the expense of the vulnerable and the poor. And who some economic commentators are now observing is responsible for the rampant free market environment which spawned the greatest economic decline the world has ever seen. She, along with her good friend Reagan, should not be held blameless for the causes of the so-called Global Financial Crisis.
For giving the official politcal stamp to the idea that greed is good

The quiet streets around St Paul's were quite different, with the eerie sense of heavy handed control, from the scenes around St Peter's Basilica in recent weeks to inaugurate a Pope (also not blameless) who is saying he should look after the poor.

I know you can't have everything

Cutting Tertiary Education funding to increase Secondary Funding doesn't seem too bright.
Many years ago we talked about becoming "the clever country". This seemed pretty smart to me!
In this last week when we have been confronted by the fact that we are no longer likely to be able to continue to be a manufacturing country, we should be reminded that what we do have to sell is quality education. Cutting any sector seems pretty silly!
The PM is no doubt between a rock and a hard place, but to suggest that all they are doing is setting targets (i.e.. cutbacks) for Universities is weasel words. My question is: at what point will P Garrett get sick and tired of thinking it's worth putting up with the political crap in order to continue to play the political game which might enable him to effect some change.
He would appear to have so compromised by the political process that his former admirers must be falling away in droves

It's over----Let's go for Malcolm

I think Ms Gillard is one of the best Prime Ministers we have had.
I do, however,  think that as a woman she has had to tolerate what no man would have ever had to tolerate. be that is it may...that is the way (sadly) the world is.

By the way...I also thought Gough was the greatest PM we have ever seen. but  I was wrong...Indeed Joyce Townend (saint that she was)  and I were quite wrong

Naive...well you have never seen naive like it.

What he didn't seem to understand was that politics is a dirty game!  It is not about idealism. It is about power...and although at the same time Sky Hooks suggested that "ego" was a dirty word,  b*7%%4r me he didn't understand that the bastards were out to get him at what ever cost.
I still remember the day the b&6@#4d sacked the Government..John Lyon, my headmaster of school ...was wandering around almost dazed...
I rather feel as though that is what is happening now.
A visionary is going to be gazumped by political crap!



So this is my plan!  There is now way that Julia is going to beat the political crap

And the worst possible outcome will be for the cynical opportunist Abbot to be her successor. At least we know that Malcolm Turnbull has a modicum of intelligence and a level of social of awareness that seems to transcend the merely political (well mostly)
So my plan is
Given that Gillard is dead in the water
Then let's go for Malcolm

Let's jettison political opportunism and hard-heatered arrogance (henceforth known as Abbotism!) and try and get politicians who actually want to do good, and get stuff done...instead of just feathering their own ambitions.
Julia could have done this
but the machine won't let her. So let's hope Malcolm can!

A wisdom story

A wee bit schmalzy...but more than a modicum of truth

Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.

The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.

Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.

Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?” “No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”

A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.” Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”

Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”

When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.

Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.

On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”

Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”

“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”

Oh what a beautiful morning

I have had a full day already. In a quiet house I awoke to pray and was reminded as I continue to pray my "retreat in daily life" that the grace today was "to grow in interior freedom". Prayer was short, sharp and to the point...and very good.

Then I knew I had too many things to do and too little time to do them, but amidst all that I had opportunity to spend an unexpected 10 minutes driving the medium S Clark (aka Nagy) to her sister in law's hen's party. And she looks like she's having fun.
Then...the highlight of the morning...A wedding for M and A...don't know them terribly well and preparation has been up and down...but (of course ) she looked lovely and they both had their vows off pat. It was a very nice wedding

The young man(another) M who was doing the intercessions reminded us that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and claimed healing for both bride and groom. Many wouldn't have known what was going on..but A has been undergoing treatment for cancer so very important to pray that strong prayer.
That was 11 a.m.   could I make Joan's flash mob at 12.15
Well I did, and wasn't that just great. I had a Sue Clark moment in the Myer Centre car park...ie. someone pulled out just as I drove up

It was amazing!  I was so pleased to see Felicity, Gisela, Ann and Cath from Corowood Choir...but also 70 others.

One mad woman was abusing Joan....and she said to me."She tripped me up!"
I rather misunderstood what she was saying ...so I suggested that it was probably an accident. But she said:
"If I had wanted to hear that (The Hallelujah Chorus) I would go to church on Sundays!"
I resisted the temptation...but felt that we could probably find a place for her in our congregation.
So, on the whole...a lot of interior freedom, a wedding, the Hallelujah Chorus.....and there was evening and there was morning....the next  day!

Getting together my thoughts (1)

I have always been a bit bemused about some of the things I hear from time to time that I am supposed to have said and done. Someone once told me that they overheard two parishioners talking in the newsagent saying “No matter what he thinks we are not going to let him close down St John’s!”

I must say I was shocked! Not the least because I didn’t recall ever having a conversation with anyone about such a thing.

This sort of stuff is par for the course, in a way, in groups like churches. We sometimes talk about each other, and treat each other poorly.

And we can’t deal with it because we often lack the courage to deal openly with each other. Are we sometimes so “polite” that we are dishonest? So cowardly that we don’t cooperate and just do what we like any way

What do we think we are doing?

It may seem strange for a priest to say that he gets a little freaked out by worship but what worries me is that we make a disconnect

between:

• worship and the scriptures and 

• worship and real life

If some how we have forgotten

that worship does not exist for its own sake

then  we have rather lost the plot.

There is a sense in which people 

(outside the church community)

come and find us

doing something that 

neither connects with God

nor connects with life.

This is very serious stuff.

But if for a moment there is an element of truth of it then the Church is in deep trouble

........more on my preaching blog coromandelpreachings

Death to all analogs will everybody know?

Tomorrow is the day that we lose analog tv completely in Adelaide.
This won't affect most of us, but I guess there will be some (probably older people ) who have no idea this is about to happen.
I am reminded of an incident many years ago when an old woman who had come to 8 a.m. church every week suddenly stopped coming. She lived by herself and her older sister had died a couple of years before.
Six months later she started to come to church again with the same regularity as previously.
It was only weeks later when I was thinking about this that I realised her cessation and the restart coincided with Daylight Saving.
I did at least wonder whether she, a person who lived largely alone, had missed the community information and clues that we just assume everyone will finally wise up to.
Will the end of analog be like that for some folk? Will they just get up and find that there TV doesn't seem to be working any more. On the unlikely chance that you might know one of these people just keep your eyes and ears open.